Our annual visit and tastings in Bordeaux took place during the last week of April. It was our 40th year starting with the 1982 vintage, a pretty good place to start. We tasted some 600 wines over the course of the week and many of the most important properties have been tasted twice and even three times.
This is a stunning vintage, however, its not 2009 or even 1982 with a homogenous framework. It’s a year where tasting is vital. The best wines are concentrated, compelling masterpieces, those who consider wine just an alcoholic beverage will most likely think again on tasting. Given the concentration and diminutive size of the berries it was all too easy to extract too much tannin into the finished product.
We are confident that our offering will include the best of the vintage, however, quantities will be reduced by at least 15% on last year with yields in some case around 20 hectolitres per hectare. We will also be conscious of pricing and wont support excessive price increases. As always, we will allocate the top wines as fairly as possible.
Weather
One of the hottest years on record, the terrible fires in the region were a testament to that. The winter was relatively mild with decent rainfall throughout the spring. Three heatwaves in summer with temperatures around 35% and pushing 40% and no rain. The vintage was early around mid-August for the whites and mid to the end of September for the reds.
The Vintage
The critics have already given a big thumbs up with very high scores, but they have been quite diverse in their opinion which makes for a more interesting debate. We have identified our top wines and are happy to share our thoughts with you as we release around four to six properties as they come on the market. We will also have some good value picks which won’t break the bank and give pleasure in the shorter term while affording an opportunity to those putting a toe in the primeur market for the first time.
This vintage has wines of enormous style and charm, some are for the longer term, but all should age gracefully as they grow up
Yours in wine,
We have been working alongside the Thienpont family and always look to their suite of properties for value, sheer quality and approachability in youth. The three wines detailed below all offer an exceptional snapshot of the appellations they represent. We have been shipping these wines directly from the Domaine for nearly 15 years.
A true testament to the terroirs they represent and the wine-making pedigree at work.
Château Puygueraud 2022
"Focused and fresh with crunchy dark and blue fruit, seashells and spicy herbs. Medium-bodied. Firm tannins and a lingering, chalky finish with some saltiness to it. Fine texture. Attractive already. 93 - 94 points."
James Suckling, jamessuckling.com, (April 2023)
Request Allocation
Château Alcee 2022
"Dark berries with blackberry and brambleberry character, as well as dusty tannins. Crunchy. Medium body. Fine tannins. Salty. Pure merlot. 92 - 93 points."
James Suckling, jamessuckling.com, (April 2023)
Request Allocation
Château La Prade 2022
"Plenty of fruit with well-integrated tannins. Medium body, bright acidity and a fresh and bright finish. Lots of crunchy What fruit. Juicy. 92-93 points."
James Suckling, jamessuckling.com, (April 2023)
Request Allocation
